Dementia is a pretty broad and general term. In this article, we will talk about what causes dementia, and the risk factors that are responsible for 40% of all cases. Let’s get started.
What Causes Dementia?
Dementia is caused by abnormal changes in the brain. These changes trigger a decline in a person’s thinking skills or cognitive abilities. And, as mentioned, it is severe enough to affect a person’s daily life and independent function significantly.
Around 60-80% of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. 5-10% are caused by microscopic bleeding and blood vessel blockage in the brain. This is referred to as Vascular dementia, and it is the second most common cause.
On the other hand, there is also what’s known as mixed dementia, which is caused by brain changes of multiple types of dementia simultaneously. However, there are many more conditions that cause symptoms of dementia.
9 Dementia Risk Factors
- Excessive Exposure to Air Pollution
- Brain & Head Injuries
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption
- Depression
- Physical Inactivity
- Social Isolation
- Mid-life Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Mid-life Obesity
According to a new research, excessive exposure to air pollution, sustaining brain injuries, and excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of dementia.
Experts believe that these three mentioned above are some of the avoidable behaviors that are responsible for approximately 40% of all dementia cases.
Dr. Gill Livingston is the lead author of the research, and an esteemed professor of psychiatry of older people at the University College London. According to the doctor, a lot of dementia is potentially preventable.
The research gives a lot of individuals hope of not developing dementia. And it also helps change things for the society and families affected by this.
According to Livingston and his team, around 3% of all dementia cases are caused by mid-life head injuries. Additionally, there are 2% that are caused by exposure to air pollution late in life. Another 1% is caused by excessive mid-life alcohol consumption.
This percentage is likely to multiply over the coming decades, according to the research. Moreover, mid-life hearing loss and smoking in later life are also believed to be risk factors.
There are, of course, lesser risk factors such as depression, physical inactivity, social isolation, mid-life hypertension, mid-life obesity and diabetes.
It is important to keep these risk factors in mind, especially if you are in your mid-life. In our next article, we will discuss how to prevent dementia, and the 9 expert recommendations.
